Mobile communication device

ABSTRACT

A mobile telecommunication device of the type having of an information transmitter/receiver, an information display screen ( 4 ), a user control interface and a processor including execution software, which is used to process and execute the numerous functions integrated in the device. The device includes elements for monitoring and analysing information received by the receiver and elements for generating at least one pictogram ( 40 ) comprising attributes which can at least be modified under the control of the monitoring and analysis elements, in order to notify a user of the receipt of information. The pictogram ( 40 ) can be displayed on the display screen ( 4 ) in order to form a man/machine interface. The device also includes activation zones ( 42, 50 ) used to activate the device&#39;s integrated functions, which can be accessed by the user via the control interface of the device in order to enable activation of the corresponding functions.

The present invention relates to a mobile telecommunications device ofthe type including an information sender/receiver, an informationdisplay screen, a user control interface, a processor and software forexecution by said processor of a plurality of functions integrated intothe device.

Devices of the above kind are in widespread use and have an increasingnumber of functions such as contacts lists, information exchange, accessto picture and sound data, access to information transfer networks (e.g.the Internet), and a large number of adjustment and personalizationfunctions.

Furthermore, such devices routinely enable reception of information ofdiverse kinds such as telephone calls, facsimile calls, short textmessages and electronic mail.

The increase in the capacities of telecommunications devices is alsoleading to an increase in the complexity of their man/machineinterfaces, which usually consist of cascaded menus or functions, makingthe use of such devices not particularly user friendly.

The object of the invention is to solve this problem by proposing amobile telecommunications device enabling user friendly management ofintegrated functions.

The present invention consists in a mobile telecommunications device ofthe type including an information transceiver, an information displayscreen, a user control interface, a processor, and software forexecution by said processor of a plurality of functions integrated intothe device, which is characterized in that it further comprisesmonitoring means adapted to analyze information received by saidsender/receiver and means for generating a pictogram for notifying theuser of the reception of information and having attributes modifiable atleast under the control of said monitoring and analysis means, whichpictogram may be displayed on said display screen to form a man/machineinterface and further comprises areas for activating functionsintegrated into said device accessible by the user via said controlinterface of the device to activate corresponding functions.

According to other features of the invention:

-   -   the device further comprises means for monitoring the operating        status of the device and said means for generating the pictogram        with modifiable attributes are also under the control of said        means for monitoring the operating status of the device for the        purposes of notifying the user of the operating status of the        device;    -   the device further comprises means for setting parameters of the        pictogram and said means for generating the pictogram with        modifiable attributes are also under the control of said        parameter setting means in order to generate a pictogram as a        function of the parameter setting means;    -   said parameter setting means are adapted to deliver to said        pictogram generation means instructions to create and/or modify        activation areas of said pictogram with modifiable attributes;    -   at least one of said activation areas corresponds to portions of        said pictogram whose activation leads to the display thereof to        a larger scale, thereby authorizing access by the user to a        plurality of associated other activation areas;    -   the device comprises a pictogram memory associated with said        pictogram generation means and the activation of certain        activation areas of a first pictogram leads to the display of        another pictogram with modifiable attributes generated by said        pictogram generation means from pictograms contained in said        memory;    -   the device comprises another man/machine interface providing        access to all of the functions integrated into the device and        said pictogram comprises an activation area for selecting the        other man/machine interface;    -   the device comprises a sequencer adapted to activate said means        for generating the pictogram to display a default pictogram on        said display screen after a predetermined time of inactivity of        the device;    -   said pictogram is anthropomorphic;    -   the device comprises at least one activation area selected from        the group comprising:        -   an activation area for contact list type functions level            with the brain of said anthropomorphic pictogram;        -   an activation area for sound functions level with an ear of            said anthropomorphic pictogram;        -   an activation area for visual functions level with an eye of            said anthropomorphic pictogram;        -   an activation area for personalization functions level with            the heart of said anthropomorphic pictogram; and        -   an activation area for functions relating to short text            messages level with a hand of said anthropomorphic            pictogram.

The invention will be better understood after reading the followingdescription, which is given by way of example only and with reference tothe appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 represents one embodiment of a mobile telecommunications device;

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a mobile telecommunicationsdevice of the invention; and

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 represent the screen of the device described withreference to FIG. 2 with different levels of detail.

FIG. 1 represents a mobile telecommunications device, to be more precisea mobile telephone 2.

The mobile telephone 2 comprises a display screen 4 and a controlinterface consisting of a keypad 6 and a multiway button 8, for example.

The mobile telephone 2 also comprises a loudspeaker 10, a microphone 12,means for sending and receiving information, in the form of an antenna14 for wireless radio communication and an infrared interface 16, forexample, and a rechargeable power supply in the form of a battery 18.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the telecommunications devicedescribed with reference to FIG. 1 comprising equipment conforming tothe invention.

This diagram shows the mobile telephone 2, the display screen 4, thecontrol interface 6, 8, the loudspeaker 10, the microphone 12, theinformation send and receive means 14, 16, and the battery 18.

All the above components are interconnected and are controlled by aprocessor 20 associated with a memory 21 that contains software 22 forexecuting a plurality of functions.

In the conventional way, the software 22 is referred to as the“operating system” and is adapted to implement all the functions of themobile telephone 2.

According to the invention, the mobile telephone 2 also comprises means24 for generating a pictogram that has modifiable attributes and may bedisplayed on said display screen 4 to provide a man/machine interface.

The pictogram generation means 24 are connected to monitoring means 26adapted to analyze information received via the informationsender/receiver 14, 16 and to means 28 for monitoring the operatingstatus of the mobile telephone 2, means 30 for setting parameters of thepictogram displayed and a pictogram memory 32, in order to receive fromthese components information for modifying attributes of the pictogramto be generated.

Thus the pictogram generation means 24 generate a pictogram that isselected in the memory 32 and whose attributes are modified as afunction of information supplied by the monitoring means 26 adapted toanalyze information received and the means 28 for monitoring theoperating status of the telephone 2 and as a function of instructionsdelivered by the parameter setting means 30.

According to the invention, the pictogram generated by the means 24further comprises areas for activation of functions integrated into thetelephone 2.

These activation areas are monitored by monitoring means 34 and areaccessed by the user of the telephone 2 via the control interface 6, 8to activate functions of the operating system 22, as described below inmore detail.

Finally, the device comprises a sequencer 36 adapted to trigger thepictogram generation means 24 as a function of time and of actionseffected by a user via the control interface 6, 8.

The means 24, 26, 28, 30, 34 and 36 consist of software written in Java,for example, and some or all of them may be integrated into the memory21 of the telephone 2 from the outset or downloaded into it during useof the telephone 2.

Similarly, the pictogram memory 32 may be integrated into the memory 21from the outset or created and/or completed during use of the telephone2.

FIG. 3 represents one embodiment of the device of the invention asdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and FIG. 3 represents moreparticularly the display screen 4 of the telephone 2, on which ananthropomorphic pictogram 40 is displayed.

For example, this pictogram 40 is a default pictogram that is displayedby default and at the command of the sequencer 36 after a predeterminedtime for which the control interface 6, 8 has been connected.

Being generated by the means 24 that are under the control of the means28 for monitoring the operating status of the telephone 2, the pictogram40 is representative of that status.

For example, the means 28 for monitoring the operating status of thetelephone 2 verify the state of charge of the battery 18 and supplycorresponding information to the pictogram generation means 24 thatgenerate the pictogram 40 so that the brightness and/or color of thepictogram 40 indicate(s) the state of charge of the battery 18.

Similarly, a symbol level with the ears of the pictogram 40 advises auser as to the status of the ringer functions of the telephone 2. Forexample, a blocked ear indicates that the ringer of the telephone 2 isdisabled.

The pictogram 40 is also generated under the control of the monitoringmeans 26 adapted to analyze information received in order to notify theuser that information has been received.

For example, if the telephone 2 receives three new SMS short textmessages, the reception of the messages is detected by the monitoringand analysis means 26, which supply corresponding information to themeans 24 for generating the pictogram 40, as a result of which the saidpictogram then includes a briefcase 42 on which three horizontal strips44 indicate three new SMS messages.

The pictogram 40 generated by the means 24 is therefore representativeof the operating status of the telephone 2 and of information received,in order to notify the user of the reception of the information.

Also, the pictogram comprises a plurality of activation areas, such asthe briefcase 42 or the face 50, accessible to the user via a controlfor moving a cursor 52 on the display screen 4 and associated with amultiway button of the control interface of the telephone.

In the example described, the cursor 52 is originally located over theabdomen of the pictogram 40 and the user may move it in eight cardinaldirections by means of the multiway button 8.

As a general rule, functions relating to SMS message are located levelwith the hand of the pictogram 40, to be more precise level with thebriefcase 42.

The user may activate the activation area 42 corresponding to thebriefcase simply by moving the cursor 52 in its direction or by placingit on top of the briefcase and validating that position, for example bypressing a key of the keypad 6.

This is reflected in the display of the briefcase 42 of the pictogram 40on the screen 4 to a larger scale, as represented in FIG. 4.

In this enlarged display, the horizontal strips 44 are each a header ofa sheet 54 and show an identifier of the sender of the text message, forexample, the sheets 54 containing the messages.

The enlarged display of the briefcase 42 also shows associated newactivation areas, such as an activation area 56 corresponding to a penand representing an area for activating functions for writing SMSmessages.

By moving the cursor 52, the user is able to access new SMS messagesreceived or compose a message to send.

For example, if the user moves the cursor 52 to the right, the sheets 54are interchanged to enable all the new messages to be read.

Furthermore, if the user moves the cursor 52 towards the pen 56, orpositions the cursor 52 on top of the pen and validates that position,the activation area 56 reacts in a similar manner to an icon, causingthe operating system 22 execute the function for writing messages.

Of course, the briefcase symbol 42 may also be used to indicate thereception of facsimile messages, electronic mail, missed calls or anyother characteristic relating to the reception of information.

By moving the cursor 52 towards the hand of the pictogram 40, and thusin the direction of the central position corresponding to the abdomen,the user may revert to the normal size display as represented in FIG. 3.

Of course, if the user has read the new SMS messages, the pictogramgenerated by the means 24 no longer comprises any horizontal strips 44on the briefcase 42, indicating that there are no new text messages.

The user may move the cursor toward the activation area corresponding tothe face 50 from the central position 52 over the abdomen of thepictogram 40, as represented in FIG. 3, or directly from the enlargeddisplay of the briefcase 42, as represented in FIG. 4. This causes theactivation area 50 to be displayed to a larger scale, as represented inFIG. 5.

The user is then able to move the cursor 52 between various associatednew activation areas distributed over the face 50 of the pictogram 40displayed in close-up, in order to access certain functions of thetelephone 2.

For example, moving the cursor 52 towards the activation area 58corresponding to the brain activates functions relating to the contactlists 2 and in particular to storing new contacts. Similarly, moving thecursor 52 towards the ear 60 activates functions relating to the soundcharacteristics of the telephone 2, and in particular to activation anddeactivation of the ringer.

Of course, other examples and configurations may be envisaged.

For example, an activation area for visual functions is provided levelwith an eye of the pictogram 40, a personalization function activationarea over the heart, etc.

If the same portion of the pictogram 40 is used both as an activationarea and to notify the user of the reception of information or theoperating status of the device 2, the device is adapted to switchbetween these two functions.

For example, a portion of the keypad 6 of the control interface of thedevice is used to switch between two modes of operation. In one of thesemodes of operation, the activation areas are accessible and are shownbrighter than information notified to the user, and vice-versa in theother mode of operation.

For example, the clothing of the upper portion of the pictogram is usedto notify the user of the reception of electronic mail and the heart ofthe pictogram 40 is an activation area providing access to personalfiles. The control interface is then used to switch between two modes ofoperation, one providing access to electronic mail and the otherproviding access to the heart activation area.

The arrangement of the activation areas enables the user to learn howthe device 2 works intuitively, in particular through the use of ananthropomorphic pictogram and the distribution of the activation areasover the pictogram 40 in such a way that corresponding functions relateto the position of the area on the pictogram 40.

Accordingly, when the device is displaying a portion of the pictogram toa larger scale, the user is not obliged to revert to the normal scaledisplay shown in FIG. 3 to access the larger scale display of anotherportion of the pictogram, but may access the larger scale displaydirectly by moving the cursor 52 in the appropriate direction; thismakes the device even more user friendly.

Moreover, a user is able to make a certain number of modifications tothe pictogram 40 by means of the parameter setting means 30.

To this end the parameter setting means 30 deliver display instructionsto the means 24 for generating a pictogram 40 so that said pictogramconforms to the parameters entered by a user.

For example, these modifications might move an activation area to aselected portion of the pictogram 40 or create a new activation area.

For simplicity, the pictogram 40 does not provide access to all of thefunctions that may be executed by the operating system 22, and it istherefore necessary to provide means for accessing all the functions,for example by activating another conventional man/machine interfaceconsisting of pull-down menus.

This may be effected by moving the cursor 52 over a particularactivation area of the pictogram 40, for example, or by manipulating thecontrol interface by holding down a key of the keypad 6 for apredetermined time.

Furthermore, control interfaces other than those described may be used,such as voice control, a thumbwheel, a touch-sensitive screen, or anyother suitable interface.

Also, a plurality of entirely or partly anthropomorphic pictograms maybe used to enable access to the various functions of the device 2, a newpictogram being displayed by activating an activation area.

In another embodiment, one portion of the control interface is dedicatedto managing the scale of the display, to enable display with a variablelevel of detail, and another portion of the control interface is used tomove between activation areas and displayed data as a function of thescale of the display.

The invention described may also be adapted to other types of device,such as personal digital assistants (PDA) or any other mobile deviceadapted to receive information and integrating a plurality of functions.

It is therefore apparent that the invention provides a simple way tosynthesize characteristics relating to the reception of information andto the operating status of the device and also provides fast and userfriendly access to functions integrated into the device.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. A mobile telecommunications device (2) of the typeincluding an information sender/receiver (14, 16), an informationdisplay screen (4), a user control interface (6, 8), a processor (20),and software (22) for execution by said processor (20) of a plurality offunctions integrated into the device (2), further comprising monitoringmeans (26) adapted to analyze information received by saidsender/receiver (14, 16) and means (24) for generating a pictogram (40)for notifying the user of the reception of information and havingattributes modifiable at least under the control of said monitoring andanalysis means (26), which pictogram (40) may be displayed on saiddisplay screen (4) to form a man/machine interface and further comprisesareas (42, 50) for activating functions integrated into said device (2)accessible by the user via said control interface (6, 8) of the device(2) to activate corresponding functions.
 12. A device according to claim11, further comprising means (28) for monitoring the operating status ofthe device (2) and said means (24) for generating the pictogram (40)with modifiable attributes are also under the control of said means (28)for monitoring the status of the device (2) for the purposes ofnotifying the user of the operating status of the device (2).
 13. Adevice according to claim 11, further comprising means (30) for settingparameters of the pictogram (40) with modifiable attributes and saidmeans (24) for generating the pictogram (40) are also under the controlof said parameter setting means (30) in order to generate a pictogram(40) as a function of the parameter setting means (20).
 14. A deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein said parameter setting means (30) areadapted to deliver to said pictogram generation means (24) instructionsto create and/or modify activation areas of said pictogram (40) withmodifiable attributes.
 15. A device according to claim 11, wherein atleast one of said activation areas (42, 50) corresponds to portions ofsaid pictogram (40) whose activation leads to the display thereof to alarger scale, thereby authorizing access by the user to a plurality ofassociated other activation areas (56, 58, 60).
 16. A device accordingto claim 11, comprising a pictogram memory (32) associated with saidpictogram generation means (24) and the activation of certain activationareas of a first pictogram (40) leads to the display of anotherpictogram with modifiable attributes generated by said pictogramgeneration means (24) from pictograms contained in said memory (32). 17.A device according to claim 11, comprising another man/machine interfaceproviding access to all of the functions integrated into the device (2)and said pictogram (40) comprises an activation area for selecting theother man/machine interface.
 18. A device according to claim 17,comprising a sequencer (36) adapted to activate said means (24) forgenerating the pictogram (40) to display a default pictogram on saiddisplay screen (4) after a predetermined time of inactivity of thedevice (2).
 19. A device according to claim 11, said pictogram beinganthropomorphic.
 20. A device according to claim 19, comprising at leastone activation area selected from the group comprising: an activationarea for contact list type functions level with the brain of saidanthropomorphic pictogram (40); an activation area for sound functionslevel with an ear of said anthropomorphic pictogram (40); an activationarea for visual functions level with an eye of said anthropomorphicpictogram (40); an activation area for personalization functions levelwith the heart of said anthropomorphic pictogram (40); and an activationarea for functions relating to short text messages level with a hand ofsaid anthropomorphic pictogram (40).